Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Pay and outlook

Median annual wage, May 2025

$58,640

Half earn more, half earn less

Middle half earn

$47,960 – $69,120

25th to 75th percentile

People employed, May 2025

2,062,040

Wage and salary jobs (OEWS)

Projected change, 2025–35

+3.8%

At or above the all-jobs rate (3.5% to under 7%)

Openings a year (projected)

214,500

New jobs plus replacing people who leave

Typical education to enter

Postsecondary nondegree award

BLS

• All figures are for the United States as a whole. Pay varies a lot by state and city.
• Wages are for everyone working in the occupation in May 2025, at every career stage. They are not starting salaries or figures for new graduates.
• Growth and openings are BLS projections for 2025–35. They are estimates, not promises. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or change occupation, not just new jobs.

What the work involves

Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.

Main tasks

• Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
• Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
• Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
• Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
• Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
• Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
• Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.

Description and tasks from the O*NET® 31.0 Database.

Getting in

Typical education to enter (BLS)

Postsecondary nondegree award

Training once hired: short-term on-the-job training

O*NET Job Zone 1–2

Little to some preparation

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Fields of study that lead here

From the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk, which links 1 programme to this occupation. A link means the programme prepares people for this kind of work. It doesn't mean the programme is required, or that it's the only route.

Related careers

Related occupations from the O*NET database, in its order.

• Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

  $46,420 median · +1.5% projected

• Light Truck Drivers

  $44,860 median · +6.3% projected

• Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

  $61,770 median · +3.6% projected

• Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

  $60,600 median · +0.8% projected

• Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs

  $37,290 median · +7.1% projected

• Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

  $68,840 median · +0.8% projected